Spa Recipe: Five Spice Rubbed Duck from Red Mountain Spa

Sometimes a salad at the spa is just not enough.  This hearty and spicy sweet duck dish from Red Mountain Spa is the perfect mix of healthy and satisfyingly indulgent.  Using extra-lean Muscovy duck, you get a delicious meaty meal that’s made from fresh ingredients and is full of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C.

Five Spice Rubbed Duck (Serves 4)

Ingredients:
1 pound Muscovy duck breast
Prickly pear marinade (recipe follows)
Chinese five spice powder
Cranberry orange chutney (recipe follows)
1 cup prepared quinoa

For the prickly pear marinade (Mix all ingredients well):
¼ cup apple juice
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp prickly pear syrup
½ tbsp olive oil
1 tsp canola oil
1 tbsp port wine
½ tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
Dash liquid smoke
1 small bay leaf
1 tsp chopped cilantro
1 garlic clove, chopped
½ tbsp chopped shallot
1 tsp toasted cumin seeds
1/3 tsp crushed red pepper
Pinch dried thyme
Pinch chopped rosemary
Pepper to taste

For the cranberry orange chutney:
½ dried cranberries
¼ orange segments
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup cranberry juice
¾ tsp orange zest
¼ tsp lime zest
¼ tsp lime juice
1 ½ cinnamon sticks

Instructions:

1. Trim duck, leaving a 1-inch strip of fat down the center.  Add marinade and marinate at least two hours.  Prepare chutney and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Remove duck from marinade and coat lightly with five spice powder.  Preheat a heavy-bottomed pan and sauté duck fat side down for 2 to 3 minutes, until fat begins to crisp.  Flip over and sauté on the other side for 2-3 minutes, then bake to medium (about 8 minutes).  Top with chutney and serve quinoa.
3. Combine all ingredients and simmer until liquid thickens

Learn more about Red Mountain Spa and an exclusive SpaFinder deal:

Save US$100 per Person, per Night with Stress-Free Spring Package!